Definition
USS Scoter (SP‑20) was a United States Navy patrol vessel that served during World War I. It was one of many civilian motorboats acquired by the Navy for section‑patrol duties and designated with the hull‑classification symbol “SP” (Section Patrol).
Overview
The vessel was originally built as the private motorboat Scoter and was acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1917 for wartime service. After being commissioned as USS Scoter (SP‑20), she was assigned to the 1st Naval District, operating primarily in the coastal waters of New England. Her duties included harbor patrol, escort of merchant vessels, and general surveillance for enemy submarines and mines. Following the armistice, USS Scoter was decommissioned in 1919 and returned to her civilian owner.
Etymology/Origin
The name “Scoter” derives from a group of sea ducks belonging to the genus Melanitta. The U.S. Navy frequently named small patrol craft after birds, especially waterfowl, reflecting the vessel’s intended role on coastal and inland waters.
Characteristics
- Type: Section patrol craft (converted civilian motorboat)
- Builder: Accurate information is not confirmed.
- Year built: Accurate information is not confirmed.
- Displacement: Accurate information is not confirmed.
- Length: Accurate information is not confirmed.
- Beam: Accurate information is not confirmed.
- Draft: Accurate information is not confirmed.
- Propulsion: Internal combustion engine (typical of motorboats of the era)
- Speed: Accurate information is not confirmed.
- Armament: Usually armed with one or two light guns (e.g., 1 × ½‑pounder or 1 × 3‑inch/50 caliber gun) on comparable SP vessels; specific armament for Scoter is not documented.
- Crew: Typically 10–15 personnel for vessels of this class; exact complement for Scoter is not recorded.
Related Topics
- Section patrol (SP) vessels – A fleet of civilian boats taken into Navy service during World War I for coastal defense and patrol tasks.
- U.S. Navy World War I operations – The broader context of naval activities, including anti‑submarine patrols and convoy escort duties along the American coastline.
- USS Scoter (AM‑381) – A later U.S. Navy vessel (an Admirable‑class minesweeper) that also bore the name “Scoter.”
- Naval vessel naming conventions – The practice of naming small patrol craft after birds, fish, and other marine life.